Father, Oh Father

Ana trudged through white hallways. She ignored the passing children and servants, or rather her mind was elsewhere. Hands tugged into her sweater she walked past them her eyes focused ahead.

"A Jahad princess…." That's what that old man had proposed.

"Do you wish to become a Princess?"

"What?" Ana asked.

"A Princess of Jahad!" He explained further. "Every several 100 years each family holds a competition to choose one amongst its female members. We Jahad priests are tasked with the honorable duty to select promising candidates." He stared in her eyes." And you are the one I chose!"

He raised his hands."If you accept my proposal I'll promise you you'll have power and riches beyond your comprehension and be both respected and feared alike. So I ask you…" He stretched out his hand towards her. "…do you accept my proposition?

"What? Why would you-!" Ana said before she heard someone shout behind her. "Ana!" She turned around at the sound of Hoaqin's voice.

The priest's eyes narrowed. "It seems like our time is cut short… very well. Think about what I have told you and meet me again when you have come to a decision. However, don't take too long I won't be waiting forever." He bowed in farewell putting his hood back on. "I'll look forward to our next meeting."

"Wait hold on a second-!" Ana reached out towards him but he had already disappeared into thin air just like he had come.

Ana's eyes narrowed as she recalled those events before Hoaqin and Vicente had appeared at her side. They had stared at her in bewilderment when they found her stretching out her hand towards nothing but air.

When they asked her what she was doing she simply ignored their questioning gazes and went on as if nothing had just happened, not telling them about the strange old man who claimed himself to be a Jahad priest and his offer.

Ana didn't know what to think about this strange development. She had never expected to be offered something like the title of a princess. And one of Jahad at that.

She knew what the name Jahad implied. The name of the King of the Tower. She shuddered slightly as she whispered it in her mind. The weight and might of that name passing through her.

The King of all 134th floors of the Towers. A god amongst men. That's what all children of the family were taught by their elders. Everyone in the Tower knew him and his 10 legendary warriors. Heck, Ana is a descendant of one of said warriors.

Ana would be a fool if she didn't say that the offer the old man made didn't sound appealing to her. "Power and respect, huh?" She thought.

Yet at the same time, her stomach churned every so slightly at the thought of the idea. If she said yes what would she need to do? He had said something about a competition… and there were other candidates so she wasn't the only one chosen as a candidate. And what happened if she lost? Would it even be worth it?

Ana sighed out scratching her hair in frustration.

This was giving her a headache. She should have just told Hoaqin and Vicente, the latter might have a better opinion of this than her. He had to know something right?

Just then she turned a corner and speaking of the devil… she ran right into him. When she crossed the corner she caught sight of a mob of silvery-white hair before bumping headfirst into someone.

Ana fell on her butt. She winced rubbing her forehead. "HEY!" Somebody shouted annoyed. "CANT YOU SEE… Ana!" A surprised voice called her name.

Ana opened her eyes to the sight of Hoaqin's excited grin. She let her hand fall onto the floor. "Oh, Hoaqin. That's good I just wanted to-" But before she could continue any further he had already grabbed her by the shoulders.

"That's great! I was looking all over the place for you! Come on! We have to hurry up!" And with that, he grabbed her hand roughly pulling her up and starting to pull her down the hall.

"Wait! Hoaqin! What's going-?!"

"Father!" He interrupted her turning around his eyes alight. "He's here! Inside the castle! We can see him, come on!" He started to pull her again.

Ana stunned by his words let herself be pulled along.

Hoaqin dragged her down hallway after hallway. They passed angered family members, disgruntled servants but Hoaqin didn't mind any of them. His gaze lay only ahead. He had only one thing on his mind and with a determined look, he pathed his way towards their destination.

Finally, they crossed into yet another corridor and Hoaqin suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. He breathed out loudly sweat running down his features. Ana looked annoyed at him having nearly run into him.

But Hoaqin's attention lay elsewhere. His eyes widened flickering with excitement his lips turned up into a wide smile. "There he is!" He said pointing ahead.

Ana turned her head to the direction his finger showed. There ahead walked a man. Long white hair flowed down his back. He was dressed in the finest white robs Ana had ever seen. Over it, he wore a long flowing blue upper garment, and dangling on his side strapped to his hip were two swords.

Ana's eyes rested for a second on the one tugged into a white metal sheath embroidered with jewelry. Ana could roughly make out a white crossguard but that wasn't what brought her attention to it. There was something mysterious about it that Ana couldn't quite pinpoint.

A shiver ran down her spine. Reluctantly she tore her gaze away from it once again resting it on the back of the man that was the head of this family. She squinted her eyes at him. That was him? Their family head?

Beside him, Ana noticed two other men equally white-haired walking beside him. One was tall towering above the ground his body ripped with muscle. The other was thin and lean a sword hanging from his belt. Sons of the Arie family… Rankers?

Ana felt herself hesitate now that they were at their destination. Hoaqin on the other hand seemed to not share the same feeling. "There he is-" He breathed out. "Come on Ana! Let's go!" He took her hand once more starting to already run ahead.

"Hoaqin-! Wait!" Ana tried to stop him but to no avail. He didn't hear her. His sole focus lay ahead on the man that was heralded as the pinnacle of swordsmanship. On his father.

Ana couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling she got with each step they took towards that man. She felt like it was a mistake ever coming here.

"Father!" Hoaqin shouted.

He didn't hear them.

"Father!" He shouted out again their feet tapping along the floor.

"Father!"

"Father!"

Finally, the man ahead seemed to notice the voice calling out for him. He and the others stopped in their tracks. He turned slightly at the sound of Hoaqin's footsteps. Ana couldn't quite make out his features framed by long white bangs falling down the side of his face.

Hoaqin stopped in front of them. "Father…!" He breathed out catching his breath. His eyes shining in awe.

Silence reigned. The man in front of them regarded them in indifference. The man on his side regarded them with raised eyebrows. Ana gulped.

Finally, he asked them "Who… are you?"

"My name is Hoaqin and this is Ana!" He said pointing at her.

He looked up at his father. "You may not remember! But I am a proud son of Arie who inherited your blood, father! We rushed here as soon as I heard that you had come to the floating castle!"

Hoaqin gathered his breath before he declared loudly. "Both my and Ana's dream is to become an even greater swordsman than you someday, Father! We will surpass you!"

Long there was no reaction from the Family Head. Ana's eyes darted uneasily between him and Hoaqin. Had that been a good thing to say?

Finally, their father's lips turned up into a ghost of a smile. Ana didn't like it.

"Ah… is that so?" He uttered out, amused.

"My Lord…" The guard to the right kelt down. "Shall we get rid of these children?"

He waited with his answer seeming to contemplate something.

"No." He answered.

He tilted his head their way.

"Follow me, my children, there is something I want to show you both."

Hoaqin looked delighted at the words. Ana frowned. Reluctantly she followed behind him.

He took them up and up, further and further they went. Ana was taken through floors she had never seen before one grander than the other. Wherever they were going in wasn't the same place as the castle.

When they came upon another staircase Ana felt the wind brush her face tousling her bangs. She looked up. At the end of the stairs, she could see sunlight streaming through. Were they going outside?

Ana followed Hoaqin the last steps up. He was bouncing up and down his feet. When Ana finally got to the top of the stairs she squinted her eyes at the sudden influx of light. She shielded her face with one hand trying to adjust it.

When she did her eyes widened at the sight in front of her. Her mouth widening in awe. Above her expended the vast sky, clouds drifting by and the sun shining brightly in the distance.

But what caught her attention was the massive structure in front of her. Build on top of a peak stood a tower and around it were floating buildings and walls! When taken all together it looked like a castle. On top of the wall a giant floating sword nestled out of pure light. The symbol of the family.

"Well?" Their father asked.

"It's amazing what an incredible alter!"

"Alter?" Ana asked, speaking up for the first time since having met the family leader. Her question caught both Hoaqin's and his attention. Ana avoided looking up at him. Even though she couldn't see his eyes she felt their gaze upon her.

"It's an alter Ana! Each family has Alters dedicated to their leaders!" Hoaqin answered. "Have you never seen it?!"

"No… I haven't." In her room without windows, she wouldn't have had much of a chance. She looked at the man behind Hoaqin not looking directly at him. Having alters dedicated to them… how ridiculous.

"I have seen it occasionally through a window!" Hoaqin turned back around to talk to his father. "Though this is my first time seeing it outside like this!"

"Haha, really?" He smiled. Again Ana felt like it didn't really seem genuine. Hoaqin however didn't seem to notice this at all. Still smiling

"I'm not one of the regulars right now, so I have to stay inside the castle!" He continued on undisturbed. "But, I'll definitely come back here again when I get chosen to be a regular later!"

"Sure." He answered.

"This is my floor, my clan. They make buildings and sing songs for me." Ana frowned at his words. He talked like they were his property. "Among the 10 families, only the Khun and Ha compare to the great Arie sword." Where was he going with this?

"So, son…"

Suddenly he stretched out his hand softly placing it on top of Hoaqin's head. It almost looked like a real fatherly gesture from father to son. But it felt oh so wrong to Ana's eyes.

Hoaqin's smile fell. At that moment both he and Ana made the mistake to look up. Both their eyes widened.

Peering down upon them were white glistening orbs.

Ana felt an overwhelming, omnipotent aura pressing down upon her shoulders. Her body shaking. She felt the sudden uncontrollable urge to run away. To get away from here. She needed to get away from those eyes! She needed to get away from that man!

Ana realized at that moment what she felt was fear. For the first time, she was deadly afraid to even take another step forward. That man… he radiated so much power it was unimaginable to her mind. He towered high above her. And higher and higher. Until he seemed like a giant to her!

"…no matter how hard you try it is impossible for you to surpass your father here." He uttered. "From the servants, wives, and countless sons of the Arie family… their flesh, bones, and blood have gathered to create the great, one and only Arie blade! And above all of this I, your father, tower as the ruler!"

His eyes narrowed. "Son. If you wish to become part of this sword, grow and sacrifice yourself in my arms!"

"However…"

"… if you really wish to surpass me, then leave this place."

"Leave and return as a demon!" He told Hoaqins frozen statue.

At that moment something inside Ana snapped. Each word that came out of this man's made Ana clench her teeth harder and harder. Her hands balling into fists. Each word was like fuel for the fire buried deep inside her, setting it ablaze.

But seeing Hoaqin like this... Hoaqin shouldn't look like that.

She didn't know where she found the sudden courage to move under those piercing eyes but the next second her arms moved. She grabbed Hoaqin's arm yanking him back towards her.

"Get away from him!" She shouted at him.

White eyebrows lifted ever so slightly in what could have been surprise.

"Hoaqin isn't a demon!" She glared at him. "And he doesn't need to sacrifice himself for you either! He can do whatever he wants!" Hoaqin looked startled at her but she didn't pay him attention to him right now. Her eyes lay on the man in front of her. Smoldering yellow eyes bored into his pure whites.

His hand fell back to his side. His eyes for the first time focused solely on her. Ana's feet were shaking but she firmly stood her ground.

His lips parted. "What was your name, child?"

"Ana!" She barked out. "It's Ana!"

"Ana…" He rolled the name over his tongue sending another shiver down her spine.

"Ana…" He repeated the name. He didn't look at them anymore instead looking heavenward. "Where have I heard your name before?" He contemplated.

A beat of sweat ran down Ana's face. He knew her name? Where did he know it from?

A smile suddenly spread across his face. He looked down upon her. "Ah, I see now… those eyes of yours… you are Hwan's child. Now, I remember."

Ana was confused by his words. "Who?"

"Poor child. You don't even remember his name, do you?"

"Who do you mean?"

"Your father, child." Ana froze at his words. "What?"

"My father…" She whispered out. "What?!"

She charged forward. "You know my father?! Where is he-?"

He lifted a finger stopping her dead in her tracks. "Hwan…" He said. "Was one of my children. He was quite a beautiful sword."

He squinted his eyes at her."Truly a pity his talent was wasted on you."

"What are you saying?! Where is he?!" Ana asked in desperation.

"Foolish child. Did you not listen?"

Ana gulped fearing what he was about to say next.

"He's dead, child. It's as simple as that."

Ana's world froze at that moment her ears failing to comprehend what had just mean said to her. "What?! Why is-!"

"In my family, I only have one rule that is never meant to be broken. Whoever my children marry our pure blood has to stay inside our family. They aren't allowed to marry any outsiders." He pointed at her. "Your father broke that rule by having you."

"With your filthy whore of a mother he had a child. A child stained by an outsider's blood." He sighed out. "If it had been up to me you would have been executed like all the others but Hwan begged me to spare your life in exchange for his."

He crossed his arms narrowing his eyes at her. "What a waste."

"What do you mean?!" She asked hoarsely.

"What do you think child?" He asked back.

"He sacrificed himself for you so you could live."

Ana walked with harsh steps onto the clearing eyes narrowed ahead. The priest was already waiting there. He turned around to face her an eyebrow lifted.

"This is quite earlier than I expected… have you come to a decision then?" He asked

Ana steeled herself. "Yes..."

"I accept."

The old man grinned. "Very well! Then let us begin!"

This was really difficult to write. Honestly I'm still not all too happy with it but I wanted to really update for you guys since i was already taking longer than anticipated. With this chapter we have reached the half way mark on the current arc. Things from here on out will pick a little bit more up and than we get to you know who.

Adios :D

Comments are love!